Vicelich, 37, now emerges as a key figure for the All Whites in their bid to reach back-to-back FIFA World Cups but the defensive midfielder expects nothing less than a hostile reception at the Azteca.
“It will be hostile, I expect that, playing in front of 104,000 Mexican fans. Losing Winston is a huge blow for the team, Winston is a great guy and brings a lot to the team on and off the pitch.
“He’s a very good player and it is tough to lose your captain but it creates an opportunity for someone to stand up and fill those boots,” Vicelich said.
“We know Mexico have had their problems and qualifying has been difficult for them this time. But it all comes down to what happens on the day in that first game.
“We have to focus on ourselves and the tactic we’ll take into the game. We can’t hope they’re going to be off their game or rely on just luck. We need to stand up and fight for each other. It would be dangerous to focus too much on what’s happening with them,” Vicelich said.
Vicelich has plenty of experience of facing Mexican opponents having played at the FIFA Confederations Cup 14 years ago in Mexico, then facing El Tri in two friendly matches since then.
He also faced Mexican side Atlante at the FIFA Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi in 1999.
The All Whites most experienced player finished on the losing team in each of those matches and knows the qualities he and his team-mates will be up against in a week’s time.
“We can expect a tough game. Mexico are a very capable team and highly ranked globally for a reason. They’ve got experience, technical, very fast and they can move the ball around a lot.
“They can change a game within a second. The key for us is to play very compact and be realistic about how we can play against them. If we can take that mind set into these games I think we have a chance,” he added.
And Vicelich says while others may say the All Whites have no chance, he believes the team spirit among the squad will once again come to the fore.
“It is a very important quality and been a strength of the All Whites team for many years now. Team spirit is vital and it showed in the last Intercontinental play-off with Bahrain.
“We had strikers running back to defend, making slide tackles in the box, we had guys fighting for each other and we need that again. I’ve seen that quality in our recent tours so when the big games come ahead it is one thing we can count on,” Vicelich said.
By contrast, Mexico’s preparations and qualifying campaign has suffered disarray since the Hexagonal started and the Auckland City FC skipper is adamant the All Whites will stick together no matter what.
“There isn’t strife in the All Whites camp, not as much as there is in the Mexican camp. If anything affects us it won’t get to our group too much whereas for them that could be different,” he said.
Vicelich flies out to Los Angeles with his All Whites’ team-mates on Saturday night with the FIFA World Cup Intercontinental play off with Mexico on 14 November.

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